Means for fueling aircraft in flight



Jan. 15, 1952 F. l. STEELE 2,582,609

MEANS FOR FUELING AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT Filed March 30, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR. FREDERICK l. STEELE ATTORNEY.

' /QW/w% I Jan. 15, 1952 STEELE 2,582,609

Y MEANS FOR FUELING AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT Filed March 50, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR. FREDERICK l. STEELE flaw/0.97m

ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 15, 1952 S FOR FUELING AIRCRAFT IN FLIGHT Frederick I. Steele, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to Curtis-Wright Corporation, a corporation of Delaware I Application March 30, 1949, Serial No. 84,330

'12: Claims. (01. 244-435) The present invention relates to fueling air-i craft in flight and provides an improved means for quickly connecting two airplanes for the transfer of fuel from one to the other. v

According to th invention one airplane is provided with a flexible hose which may be caused to trail into proximity with the other airplane which is flying at a difi'erent level. Carried by the trailing end of the hose is a body, hereinafter called a bird, adapted to be automatically coupled upon contact to the end of a tubular boom extended fromthe other airplane. The bird is provided with airfoil-means for stabilizing it both longitudinally and directionally, making it a relatively stationary target for the boom when the two airplanes are flying at substantially the same speed and in the same direction; and the end of the boom is preferably arranged directly in the field of forward vision of the pilot of the boom carrying airplane so that he ma .fly" it into engagement with the bird in much the same manner as he would maneuver theairplane 'to bring a flxed-gunsight to bear upon a target.

A further objective of the invention resides in the provision of means to further facllitateflnal' coupling engagement of the boom with the bird. To this end a funnel-like foil/is formed on the bird. to receive and guide the nose ofthe boom into engagement with the coupling means. A still further objective is the provision of electromagnetic means, part of which is on the bird and part on the boom, for automatically coupling the boom to the bird with a force strong enough to resist the loads tending to'separate them in normal refueling operations, but frangibleenough to permit the airplanes to be flown apart-in an emergency. The invention provides valve-means which close automatically when the coupling is broken to prevent the loss of fuel and the danger of fire incident thereto.

larger scale, showing the interengaging parts of the bird and the boom;

Fig. 6 is a side elevationof the boom and fluid operating means therefor mounted on one airplane; and,

,The foregoing and other objects and advan tages of the invention will appear from the fol- V lowing description of the form of the invention "A net,

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of the,

boom operating means and a fluid circuit therefor. I

As shown in Fig. 1 a flexible hose i0 trailing from a supply airplane H has at its lower end a bird l2 adapted to be detachably coupled to the upper end of a tubular boom l3 extending from an airplane l4 that is to receive the fuel. Airplane II is provided with a reel IE on which the hose i0 is wound when not in use, the bird [2 then being'either retracted into the fuselage of airplane II or so close to the exterior of the.

fuselage as not to interfere with takeoff or land-. ing. The end of the hose that remains secured to thereel is connected through suitable valve.

means (not shown) with one or more fuel tanks in airplane, so that after a coupling between the bird and the boom is effected fuel may be. caused to flow, preferably under pressure so as to reduce the time of transfer, from thesupply net l9 whose poles are shaped to receive .nose

section 20 of the boom [3, this section being 'of soft iron or other material suitable to forman; armature for the magnet. The windings 2l-of the magnet are connected by suitable leads 22 extended along hose ill to a battery or other suit; able source of electric energy (not shown) and switch means in airplane I. l whereby the magnet may be selectively energized or deenergized by personnel of that airplane. The electromagnet is of sufficient strength to hold the birdcoupled with the boom against the resistance; of loads tending to separate them and of the magnitude to be normally expected in the fueling operation. An annular gasket of rubbery material disposed betweenthe 'polesof the electromagnet-is ar-- ranged to be slightly compressed when the armature 20 is seated, so that a substantially liquid tight seal is providedbetween the bird and'the boom. 1

Extending across the section 20 is a spider 23 engageable with the stem- 24 of a valve 25. The stem is slidable in a guide 26 supported in a spider within tubular member l1, so that the valve may move to and from an annular valve:

seat 21. A spring28 is arranged to hold the valve seated at all times except when the nose section 20 of the boom is engaged with thev magas showninFig. 5. f

'let: Extending-from the}reversing-valve td on To facilitate engagement of the boom a conical guide is extended rearwardly from the ring 3. This'guide comprises spaced radially and rear- Wardly extending bars 29 and a ring 30 connecttracted position within airplane 14 indicated at l3, the valve 44 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 7. Thereupon fluid from the pressure line 42 will enter the cylinder through branch passage ing the bars at their outer ends. For stabilizing 5 50, and fluid will return from the cylinder to the the bird sweptback airfoils 3| extend substantially horizontally. from oppositesides of the ring. l9, and substantially upright end plates 32, constituting vertical stabilizers, are provided at the reservoir l6 via lines 41 and 45, with the result that..the... iston will be moved totheleft, .thereby contractingi'the strut.

With the boom in erected position and the electips of airfoils 3|. ,-,lQ. tric circuit through windings 2| closed to energize As indicated in Fig. 6 the boo I3 i pivoted at 33 to a fixed conduit 34 Within-Iliazairpl'g qq r and communicating with the latterfs fuel ,tanks (not shown). For operating; thegb'qom' betwe'enf.

the magnet, the airplane l4 approaching the bird aIztrromaitueerearirmay: be maneuvered to engage the no ection. 2 ll: off. the boom with the electromag c. In effecting this engagement the its extended position shown'in Fi'g'sl'l aiid Band """p'il6t ofairpla egldfimay sight the upper end of in full'lines in Fig. 6, and its retracted position shown at l3 in dotted lines in"Fi'g-:*'6, an exteIisi' F a cylinder38, piston 39 and piston rod 40 and a compression spring?! f whfichectsf to resiliently-resist te'rminalmovementof "thepiS'tn 'in -one d rection, e. movement of the piston correspondt motionjofthe boom l l-"frbrn the full line the boom, whichi's directly in his line of forward visiongon the riiig35 as a target; the line of sight being indicated at V in Fig. l. The bars 29 provid'a'ioifof relatively large area for initial contact by the boom, and upion such contact the airplar'ie fl 4% may be fmove'd verticallyor laterally;- or hot, ;-as may be necessaryto center theboorn nosej i9 *wi'th'in-* the-electromagnet; As soon as the" armature i's'fbrough't in 'c1"dse "proximity with" the I supplyFairplari'e fuel' nfay now through the hose 1 tliat is 'in fiuid communication with-"the pump fi fsi i eli yimd r .8 e -l e, w anp 1' fiextends 'irom"thief-valve toan' intermedi Wfieii the fueling-' operation"- has} been com: plted the magnet isdeenergized 'and 'the a-irpl'a ne W- a lowed" to -drop back f tofefieot complete I p I separation offthe'bopm'fromtliehirdi Tlie boom tgpa t'qfii h 'cy freb ga-braficr'f 5 maytenementinwair ane14 amine-nose 107' merged-mp6(air lane: IL Should an em rgenc or accidental: change f' fiight 'path or relative 'spee'd" of the 'airplanesff causethem to pull- 'ap'art against is"p b y loateid L tm p fit at easily 40* ing isf-m rogress, the w ive 2 4' "is' 'immediately' accessible to the pilot or otherprsonnel 'of the wm a rm e 1 boom is; caused to be raised to 'workirfgfpoil sitioll by" L 8111359 531 theipos'ifidn 51mm: craft anda second-tubular member on the other turnin g 'the reversingvalve toconnectf with 13194112116 r "l 5 geth'er constitute a detachable coupling "device I It will annula 'rm'atu're or boom nose section 20 to desiredffor exaniple'tli airplane'l lmay'beinade the supply aircraft and airplane If the receiving aircraft. The magnet maybe; provided on the clz'aiim i a mi siy i em on 1;; Means; tor; transferring fluid iro masuppl y aircraft a. a receiving aircraft comprising a first tubular mernber adapted to extend -from one air-.

in'dotteiiilirresat 13" toward the-position 7o aji-cfafflfla qdt blifigl .device' comprising. a first said sections to 'secure"'theiii togetherime sf mounting said second member for movem'e'nfb' 'e s "'that' in 'effectth'e bird and' 'th'e- I acsacoe r tween a retracted position and-an 'extendedgposition wherein said complementary section is dis-'- posed substantiallyin the field of forward vision of a pilot of said other aircraft, and power operated means for effecting extension and retraction of said second member, saidpower operated aircraft toa receiving aircraft comprising; a

first tubular member adaptedfto extend from one aircraft and a second tubular membenon the other aircraft, a coupling device comprising,

a first section carried by said first member and acomplementary section on said second member said coupling device being responsive contact" of said'sections to secure them'togthe'r, means mounting said second member for movementbe tween a retracted position and an extended position wherein said complementary section is disposed substantially in the flel'd of forward vision of a pilot'of said other aircraft-, and power up: erated means for effecting extension and'retrac tion of secondmember, said power operatedv means comprising an extensible hydraulic strut,

resilient means associated" with said-strutf toabsorb impact loads incident to engagement or said sections, and Ineansto snubrebound action of said resilient meansfi 4 3. Means for transferringfluid from a supply aircraft to a receiving aircraft comprising: a first tubular member adapted to extend from one aircraft and a second tubular member on the other aircraft, a coupling device comprising one section on the extending end of said first member and a complementary section onxsaidsecond'member said coupling device being responsive to contact of said sections to secure thern'together, means mountin said second member for movement be tween a retracted position and sposition wherein "it projects from the other aircraft an extensible hydraulic strut comprising a cylinder and piston for operating said'second member between its retracted and projected positions, fluid bypass means at one 'end' of thel'cylinder' pro viding for movement of saidsecondmember from its normal'ext'ended position under impact loads imposed by engagement of said sections, spring means for resiliently resisting said movement, said bypass means being arrangedto snub rebound action of said spring means by retarding the passage of fluid through said by-pass means. 4. Means for transferring fluid from a supply l aircraft to a receiving aircraft comprising: a first tubular member extending from one aircraft and a flexible tubular member adapted to extend from the other aircraft, a coupling device havin a fluid passage therethrough and comprising a section on the extending end of said first member and a complementary section on said flexible member, one section comprising an annular electromagnet having a flexible sealing rin disposed between the poles thereof, and the other section being an annular armature adapted to seat within said electromagnet and against said flexible sealing ring, said electromagnet when energized and brought into coupling relationship being adapted to seize and hold said armature, valve means in said fluid passage of the coupling device arranged for opening movement by and upon entry of said sections into coupled relationship, spring means for urging closing of the valve means when said sections are uncoupled, a plurality'of 'bars 'radiating'from said-"one of said sec-- tions to provide a funnel shaped foil for guiding said sections into coupling relationship, a -ring encircling and joinedto the ends of said barsfor I defining a circular target for the other of said sections, and airfoil means extending 'from the section on said flexible member for stabilizin 'it to facilitate entering said sections into such coupling relationship.

5. vMeans for transferring fluid from a supply aircraft to a receiving aircraft comprising: "a first tubular memberextending from one aircraft and a flexible tubular member'adapted to extend from the other aircraft, a coupling device comprising asection on the extending end of said'first member and a complementary section onsaid flexible member, one section being'anannular electromagnet having a flexible sealingring disposed between'the' poles thereof, and the other section I being an annular armature adapted to seat within said electromagnet and: against said sealing ring, said electromagnet when energized being adapted to'seize and hold said armature whensaid sections are brought into coupling-relationship for providing :a fluidpassage, connecting said tubular'*members. ancl extending through the coupling device, valve means in said flu'idlpassage arranged for opening movement by and uponentry of said'sections into coupled relationship,-

and spring means for urging closing action of the valve means when said sections are uncoupled." r 6. Means for transferring fluid from a supply aircraftto a receiving aircraft comprising: a first tubular member extending from one aircraft anda flexible tubular member adapted to extend from the otheraircraft, acoupling device comprising "a section on the extending end of said first member and'a' complementary section on said flexible member, one" section being an'annular electromagnet and' the other section being an annular armature adapted-to'seat within said electromagnet, saidflelectromagnet when -energized being adapted to'seize and-' hold 'said armature when said sections" are -brought into coupling relationship for p'rovidinga fluid'passage, connecting. said tubulanmembers-and' extending through the coupling device, and valve means in said fluid passage arranged for opening and closingmovement byand upon couplin and uncoupling; respectively, of said' sections.

7. Means 'for transferringfluid from. a supply aircraft to a receiving aircraft comprising: afi'rst tubular member extending from one aircraft and a flexible tubular member adapted to extend from the other aircraft, a coupling device comprising a section on the extending end of said first member and a complementary section on said flexible member, one section being an annular electromagnet with inwardly facing poles and the other section being an annular armature adapted to seat within said electromagnet in berzand'iaacompiementarysectionxon :said flexible-1:? member; meansrresponsive :to: coupling contact :of: saidimembers-foricausingsaidlmemberstolcoupler securely rjupion engagement" valvermeans the fliiidvpassagel of the couplingzdevicearrangedifor:

sections into coupled: relationship, and spring means for: urgingrclosing actiont'of':the-1va1ve means when said sections are :uncoupledr 9? Means; for; transferring fluid-i from a supply aircraft to a a receiving-r; aircraft? comprising a :1 firstxtubular memberextending' from one aircraft andiagflexible tubulanmembergadapteditoiextendr fromcthetiotherzaircraft? a: coupling "device having a fluid. passage therethrou'gh 1 and comprising a sec'ti'onfon the-:extending endziofsaidfirst membenandi'acomplementary section on said flexible member; means" responsive to': coupling contact' of ::said :members for :causing- :said; members to couple securelyz uponfengagement; and valve meansin thezfluid passage of the coupling device arranged foropening and .closingqmovement by andrupon coupling: andiuncoupling, respectively. of :said .sectionsr I '10::Means'1for transferringfluid. from a supply-faircraft" to a, receiving i-aircraft"comprising: asfirsttubulare memberiextending from one aircraft'andra flexibleatubularmember adapted to u extendfromzthe other aircraft; a coupling device having?arfluid"ipassagevtherethrough and comprising-"a: secti'onronzthe extending rend of said first member and a, complementary section on passage arrangedfor'operiing-tmovementby and,

upon" entry ofzj-said 'sections into -:coupled :rela:=- tionship, a? plurality:- of bars:;radiating from one i of said sectionsrtorprovide a funnel shaped foil for: guidingsaid: sections coupling relationship, a rringaencircling-fandi joined to the :ends of said *ibars Jot-defining a circular target for the 0 other -ofsaidsections; andairfoilmeans;,extendinto such:-coupling relationship;

11;: Means for "transferring;- fluid: from a: supply aircraft to" a: receiving aircraft comprising: a-firstttubulaf :member; extending from one air-:

craftran'd a flexible :tubular member-adaptedtoextend :fromrthe'zother aircraft; a couplingndevice comprising i a; section 0n: the i extending .end of' said first member'and *a complementary section 5',- ontsaid rflexiblef: member; a: plurality-1 of bars radiating-*fro'm'one of' said sections. to: provide ing fromthe section-jonisaid'flexible-membeififor a stabilizing :it to 1 facilitate entering said sections,

a funnelishaped' foil; for sg iiiding saidsectionsfinto'; coupling erelationship; and-';a;ring.;1;encircling and:

joined to the-ends ofz'saidbars. 12. Means :for transferring g fiuid from one air-= craft ,to asecond aircraft; comprising a tubular member trailing from=theafirst aircraft having,

adjacent: its. trailing; 'end, a skeletonized, funnellike frame-extending: rearwardly: therefrom, said frame-atits-1smallerforward end having acoupling member, a, second tubular member onthe second aircraft movable: from aretractedposition wholly within the aircraft to an. extended position, ,said. second tubular member including; meansfor its resilient support in its aircraft and -including;a forwardlyrfacing. coupling member.

adapted for entry into said funnel-like frame and for engagement with 'said first coupling member, said coupling members including leak-minimizing elements coactable with one another when th members arecoupled, one member including a preselectively energizable element operable to secure said members together automatically upon engagement of the members with one another.

said element -.'being dee energizable selectively to 7 release said members and being separable in response to separation of said aircraft while energiz'ed,,and va1ve,means:normally closing the first coupling,memberQopenable in 2 response to cou- V pling of the two membersfto admit of fluid pas aircraft to'the second aircraft,

I. STEELE.

mrmrwenswmn The "following references are -of record in the file 30f: this patent-iv UNITED STATESPATENTS sage through said-tubularme nbers from the first Great 'Britain' Mar. 16, 1932" 

